Demand for alternative fuel vehicles is soaring across Europe, with the UK leading the way with the biggest year-on year increase in the EU’s major markets.

Alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) registrations rose by 17.4% across Europe in the second quarter of 2015, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), while demand for AFVs in the UK surged 62.4%.

Significant growth was also seen in France and Spain, where AFV registrations rose 59.7% and 58% respectively, while heightened demand in EFTA (European Free Trade Association) countries was largely driven by Norway where an 77% of the 11,614 vehicles registered were electrically powered.

In terms of sales the UK was third with 17,123 AFV registrations in the second quarter, after Italy with 60,121 and France with 20,420.

Pure electric vehicle registrations grew by more than half (53%) in the second quarter of 2015, with hybrid vehicle registrations rising by 22%. The number of propane and natural gas vehicles registered also increased slightly. A total of 143,595 AFVs were registered across Europe in the second quarter of 2015.

Figures for the first half of 2015 further highlight the buoyant AFV market in Europe, with demand rising 24.6% to almost 300,000 (298,463) registrations in the EU. The UK once again led the way with the biggest growth (62.6%) of Europe’s major car markets.